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The real Bizarre in Cuba

I was totally OK with watching Andrew Zimmern of the Travel Channel enjoy the fruit that is Cuba on his new series, Bizarre World, and share it with the world. I was happy to get another glimpse at mesmerizing Cuba today. But, he (to the left in a Travel Channel photo) completely ignored the reality and made the Cubans out to be happy house slaves.The New York Timesreview said this:

“What’s truly bizarre about Mr. Zimmern’s presentation of Cuba — which is, it should be said, quite nicely shot and nearly always interesting to look at — is its failure, or refusal, to connect any dots between politics and the life he sees around him. Why is Cuba one of the few places where the tree rat is hunted for food? Why don’t you see anyone using cellphones? Why are the streets full of ancient American automobiles?

A one-hour cable travelogue doesn’t need to get into an analysis of whether Cuban poverty is a result of the American trade embargo or the policies of the Castro regime (both of which Mr. Zimmern acknowledges). But the show ought to be able to say that the citizens are poor and that they lack freedom, rather than saying that the Cubans are “a people who’ve learned to enjoy life’s simple pleasures without the frills.”

Bravo, Mr. NYT.

It is unfeeling, onesided crap like this episode and other Cuban stories I have read that make Cuban-Americans distrust American media. It tells the “happy,” how-cool-are-they-and-how-lucky-am-I story. Where’s the story about not being able to find milk for your child or an aspirin for your never-ending freaking headache?The episode was gross and a complete insult. And, to piss me off it has to be bad, for I am a bit more forgiving of media than my Cuban relatives and friends. I am among the very small number of Cuban-Americans who believes the travel ban should be lifted. I hold out a hope that connection between everyday people of our two countries would lead to change and freedom. But seriously, if what would come to pass would be Americans living Zimmerns experience — using Cuba as some beautiful whore they can use, pay off and walk away from — forget it.If the Cuban people can’t enjoy the gem that is their country, then you shouldn’t either.At the end of the episode, Zimmern said the visit taught him to appreciate his privileged life back home. Was he talking about his “stuff,” or the fact he has compete and total personal freedom? The Cuban people have neither.

Had I produced the episode of Bizarre World: Cuba, you would have seen this:

Tourists can rent yachts and catamarans to cruise Cuba’s many beautiful uninhabited islands. Cubans aren’t allowed on boats that far out to sea. Bizarre.

Tourists can scuba and catch big, fat lobsters in Cuba’s unspoiled coral reefs. Cubans get arrested if they trap, or sell, lobster. Bizarre.

American, want to take the family on vacation to Europe, to the Caribbean, to anywhere? Save your pennies and go. The majority of Cubans aren’t allowed to leave the island. Ever. Bizarre.

Untold number of souls risk everything each year — and have for decades — by jumping on rickety rafts and heading to the United States. Too many have been lost. Those caught and returned: Jailed. Bizarre.

A million plus Cubans marched in the May Day Parade. That’s because if they don’t, they get reported to the local Communist Committee for the Defense of the Revolution. Mucho problema. Bizarre.

Cubans hunt and eat the tree rat, hutia. That’s because most of them go months, or years, without access to meat. Bizarre.

And more about meat: It is illegal for a Cuban to sell or purchase beef on the black market. Doing so risks jail time. The beef is for the big, fat tourist. Bizarre.

The government tells Cubans to marinate banana peels as if they were beef and pretend. Bon appetit! Bizarre.

Tourists can rent the room in the Hotel Nacional in Havana where Frank Sinatra and Eva Gardner spent their honeymoon. The cost for one night runs from $142 to $211 USD. The average Cuban earns about the equivalent of $12 a month. Bizarre.

Speaking of hotels, up until two years ago, it was illegal for a Cuban to even walk into a hotel. Bizarre.

Americans can go to the hardware store and buy whatever they need for their home. A Cuban can be arrested for “illegally purchasing” construction materials. Bizarre.

Want a little sexo on your fabulous Cuban vacation? Hey, turista, for the cost of a cheap lipstick or a bottle of shampoo, some hot cubanita — or cubanito, depending on your preference — will rock your salsa-loving world. Bizarre.

Hey, you think the American president is a sucky one and want to post all over the internet or put up a sign in your yard or yell from a street corner. Go for it, Free Man! Do it in Cuba? Jail. Bizarre.

American, you hate your local newspaper? At least you have a free press. In the a country that owns its press, 22 journalists are jailed for writing the unapproved. Bizarre.

34 Responses to “The real Bizarre in Cuba”

Comments

I was pleasantly surprised at the NY Times criticism of the Travel Channel piece. The Gray Lady usually views Castro's long history of human rights violations as minor indescretions.

The Travel Channel's depiction of Cuba is unfortunately consistent with the view by most Americans who remember visiting the island. To them, it was a tropical Las Vegas, a wide open party town where you checked your inhibitions at the door. Like today's visitors to Vegas, the tourists had little interest in the lives of the locals.

This show was produced in that same tradition of self-centered indifference, an ethos that says: "Just make sure my mojito is cold and my mulata is hot."

It's bizarre to state that this program was not political! It may not have been Andrew's intention, but the lauding of the Cuban revolution, Che and Cuba's totalitarian system oozed through the entire show! It was an excellent propaganda tool & bait for the Castro regime to promote tourism. And unfortunately, just as they do today … many apathetic/selfish tourists will enjoy this beautiful island which would be "paradise" to them, while Cubans (other than those who are part of the elite and apologists of the Castro regime) wish they were foreign in their native country, just to enjoy the same things … :(

…if what would come to pass would be Americans living Zimmerns experience — using Cuba as some beautiful whore they can use, pay off and walk away from — forget it.

That is exactly what has been happening since castro "opened" up Cuba in the early nineties. It's exactly what's happening today and is exactly what will happen should all travel restrictions be lifted. To believe otherwise, despite the overwhelming evidence is idealistic at best, naive at worst.

Val, sadly, I am an optimist. It is what bites me in the ass often. Can't seem to shake it though.Indeed, muchos turistas have been enjoying the fat of the land while the Cubans get thinner and thinner.

Raul, best line: "Just make sure my mojito is cold and my mulata is hot.''

Cuba hasnt been a "tropical " las Vegas ever. It was an island with FOUR casinos. Most Americans remember Cuba as place where Americans owned businesses, a place where they could take the family to the best beaches in the Caribbean, a country very much like the US, in terms of a working middle class and a strong economy.

"The Godfather" is not an accurate or historic depiction of the real Cuba pre-castro.

Val, my impression of U.S. travelers to Cuba before Castro has come from many unsolicited comments from people who expressed exactly the sentiments I conveyed — that Cuba was an adult playground. This is usually said in a wistful tone when they discover I am Cuban. While there may have been a wholesome, family-oriented contingent of Americans who went Cuba for its pristine beaches, I have yet to meet one. In fairness, I won't say they don't exist. All the same, I did not gain my insights about U.S. tourists from Hollywood.

Carrie, I agree with you entirely. There's at least some comfort in knowing that the major U.S. media at least recognize the issue. For many (frustrating) years they kept their blinders on, speaking of the "wonderful socialist experiment that is Cuba," etc. etc.

Why can't anything in Cuba just be about the culture, the food or the music? Everyone knows the political situation in Cuba, so why bring it up? Do we have to revel in all that is negative and ignore what is good? Does everything about Cuba automatically have to be about politics? There are bad things and good things here too, same as in Cuba. There is nothing wrong in producing a program that chooses to showcase the unparalleled culture that Cuba has. Believe me, I understand the pain felt by so many of us…the anger, y todo, but I wonder, how many of us here actually grew up in Castro's Cuba? I came here, by myself and in my twenties at the time of the crisis. Yes, I am saddened by what I have seen when I have gone back to visit, and yes, it is weird to me because it's my country, but it's not my country. But I can tell you that as much as people struggle with the day to day, they have a spirit that can never be broken. I don't think that constitutes showcasing Cubans as "happy slaves."I don't condone or defend the regime and I am not a communist, but I think it's time we start to change our thinking. Es tiempo de cambiar el odio por el amor.

Great post, Carrie. Couldn't have said it better myself. Like Raul Ramos, I was completely surprised with the NYT article. Major shocker…

I understand that the show isn't politically-oriented and that its focus is on travel, but like you said (ever-so-correctly) there is no way to ignore the political situation. Doesn't it bother people to think that there was only tourist there and 0 natives…(unless they were working of course). I went to NY and I went to all the tourist traps and even then I met New Yorkers that weren't working. They were there enjoying the same things I was enjoying. When I have visited other countries, I always met people that had the freedom to enjoy all the same amenities. Why is it that every time I go to Cuba's beaches or anywhere else, the only natives I meet are employees?

You can't film the show and ignore the political factor that dominates the very same place where you are. Everything doesn't "automatically be about politics", but let's just be editorially aware and address the pink elephant in the room.

Thanks for the post, Carrie. Sadly, the show was as bizarre as I expected it to be.

Well,well, here we go, yes my dear, after 50 years we still have to put up with Americans that go to Cuba and don't see what really is going on.Before 59 we were a country ahead of our time,to those who think Cuba was a whore house from one end to the other are sadly mistaken, but not to worry,Obama will soon open the flood gates and the rest will be history,and tell me, do you think Juanes singing for La Paz, instead of Libertad is going to help Cubans?Shame,shame, to think that we need to change, el odio por el amor, lo siento, pero si a mi ese maldito desgobierno me mata a mi padre,o pasa 30 años en la carcel, ni aunque pasen 100 años no habria amor.

Carrie I understand what you are saying and I guess that in your line of work you would probably have a different view than me. I see that I am the only dissenting voice here…while I don't agree with everything said here, I think it's great that we live in a country where we can disagree and that's okay, tu sabes?

To answer about the Americans that don't know what's really going on in Cuba…Do we ever know what's really going on in any country we visit? Do we ever really know what's going on in the country where we live? Por ejemplo, Mexico is an incredibly corrupt and poor country, yet tourists go there all the time. They stay in the fancy resorts, but where do the Mexicans live? In fancy houses eating nice food? I don't think so.Perhaps people don't really understand Cuba, but the people of Cuba are starting to see just how much their brothers and sisters 90 miles north really care about their happiness.

Oya, point taken about other countries. But, I can't compare poverty and backwards corruption with communism and lack of freedom of choice. If a Mexican person has the means he can travel, stay in fancy hotels, move out of the country. As bleak as life is for many Mexicans, an opportunity for personal freedom and upward mobility exists — not as greatly as in our country or in another developed country, but it exists.

Carrie, I don't know how many impoverished Mexicans would agree with you on that one. In theory, yes, the possibility for upward mobility exists, but in reality, if it comes, it very often comes through illegal means, much the same as in Cuba. I don't think freedom of choice = having upward mobility or money. Here's the thing…as you know, Cubans have relatives from the US visiting everyday. And they come back, and they show off their gold chains and their clothes and their money and they bring wonderful gifts. Well not everybody…the stories I could tell you about one of my uncles! Anyway, my point is our brothers and sisters come over to visit us and show off their stuff, but they also tell us how hard it is. Por ejemplo, we go from not having to pay for health care to having to pay for it. I think freedom of choice is a subjective thing. In Cuba we worry about food and basic things and in the US people worry about health care…I don't know which is worse.Sorry to ramble (obviously I'm no writer) but I would like to say another thing, that is kind of related. As a Cuban who was born, raised and spent most of my life there, I get frustrated when people tell me what it's like there. I like to think that those who live in a place have a better idea of what it's like to live and just exist there than those who don't.Thank you for letting me voice my opinion and being so respectful. I'm not trying to change anyone's mind (because I know on this issue it's impossible) but I just want to explain my experiences and my views.

Carrie, I also wanted to ask where you got your information from. Many of the points you make are true, but a few of them are not. No one in my neighborhood was ever told to boil banana peels to pass as meat. In fact, I never remember anyone ever being told to do that. Except for during the crisis, I never went years without eating meat, and I never ate jutia as a substitute. No one really eats that except in the countryside, and even there it is considered rare. Eating jutia is something like the mambises ate when they were fighting you know? People who eat it now do that because they want to. You see, this what's wrong with the "dialogue" on Cuba. There are so many lies being passed on as fact.

Oya, indeed, those of us who haven't lived it can't, and shouldn't, tell it the way it is for an individual.From over here, my heart always has ached for those I know there, and newly arrived, who struggled so much and who have expressed desire to be the captain of their own life.

My own newly arrived relatives have said they have traded some struggles for others, but they wouldn't trade the new freedom.

For someone who isn't a writer or a native English speaker, you are communicating quite well.

And, my policy here is that I will delete any comment that is unkind or unfriendly (even my own mother's!), so glad you don't feel slammed on for expressing the minority opinion. All opinions and open discussion welcome. Nasty and mean personal attacks are not.

Lo siento…I'm sure I am annoying at this point.I forgot something…I think maybe a long time ago people were reported on for things like not marching in the May Day Parade, but that hasn't happened in years, probably decades. Believe it or not, there are average citizens who enjoy the May Day Parade. It is a big holiday in Cuba.Okay, okay…I promise not to bother any more.

Thank you for your kind words Carrie. Jajaja…I work on my English a lot, but you know writing is very different from talking because I can stop and look things up! Plus, I studied English in school in Cuba.I really like your blog…I always think it's funny to find cubans spread out in the country, because we always think cubans, Miami! Jajaja!

You're right about Cubans … in spite of 50+ years under a totalitarian & repressive regime, their spirit & inherent (I think genetically) "joi de vivre" prevails …

In the real world, we can't discuss Cubans & Cuba and leave out politics … the sad reality of Cubans in the island is not a result of a natural disaster or lack of natural resources or industry, and so on … it's the result of the impact of the socialist/communist political (economic) system imposed by the Castro regime on the Cuban people.

Even if we attempt to leave politics aside, from the moral perspective, how can we reconcile with the fact that while WE enjoy and even take for granted our Freedom, Cubans lack theirs?

Andrew made a comment about all the vintage cars in Cuba and explained that this was a result of the US Embargo (which does not apply to humanitarian help/food/medicine) … but wait … how come we don't see cars from all the other car manufacturing countries in the world? After all, isn't the USA the only country which does not "directly" do business with Cuba? Basic things are not available to "ordinary" Cubans in the island because of the island's political (& thus economic)system.

It's telling how some want and stipulate change towards Cuba from the outside, without requiring any change inside Cuba! If you really care and love Cubans, you would not be satisfied with watching "some" of them get dollars and things from their families & contacts in the US, instead, you would want ALL Cubans to have a fair shot and access to a better life, which can only begin with the Freedom to think and do what they want …for a socialist system which strive in equality, the opposite is so evident!!

"In Cuba we worry about food and basic things and in the US people worry about health care…I don't know which is worse."

Oya, from time to time from your words, it's hard to determine if you are actually in the US or in Cuba … but if you live in the US … you know that no one is refused health care at a hospital's emergency room … we also have Medicaid! Yes … maybe we need health care reform, but all things "Free" are not always better, nor are they "free" …

Oya, I don't know you and I respect your opinion. However, you used the disclaimer line :"I don't condone or defend the regime and I am not a communist."

For someone who makes that statement, I must say that you have done a great job justifying the reality of Cuba under communism. You remind me of my aunt, who would make statements like … "We can't find soap, but it's ok since we are exporting it …" ;)

Oya, no need to worry though … With the easing of travel restrictions and elimination of the money Cubans in exile can send to their relatives in Cuba by this administration, a few lucky Cubans in the island prison can at least enjoy a little more their lives while in confinement … until parole comes in the form of a raft, lottery number, marriage to a foreigner (with luck), regime change or death …

I wish you well :) Melek

"Combined with the Freedom to do so, the will to succeed and prosper, or have everything handed to you, is the difference between wealth and poverty. Try, push hard and the rewards are there, sit on your butt and bemoan your plight and you will be handicapped all the rest of your life. It's a choice; Not mine! I choose to win, not lose. I choose to succeed, not fail. And the rewards are earned not given.” ~ Melek

Bravo!!!!! The world needs more "truth writers" and less journalists and TV personalities perhaps? Why do so many continue to ignore the injustices in the world? Why do so many praise and accept that which is completely reprehensible?

Worst of all, how can some in the United States still applaud Castro and the communist government there? Are they blind? Or are they simply empty of any humanity?

I've read about the show, but knowing the business as I know it -and not being the optimistic you are – I kind of knew this was gonna be the usual stuff completely detached from the actual Cuban's reality.

Maybe I am way too realistic, by I agree with Val. Not surprised at all.

When even the NYT criticized it (since they are la mata, the cream of cream of MSM's editorial bias, it should be because it was wayyyyyy to far from reality.

I am with Abuela on this; you know, mas sabe el diablo por viejo que por diablo (No offense to the age of the Abuela, OK?) Digo yo…